Women's College Soccer Roundup

BC, Holy Cross, Bridgeport Win Season Openers

August 29, 2009

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -- Junior forward Brooke Knowlton scored two goals to lead the Boston College women’s soccer team past non-conference foe Fairfield University, 5-0, Friday night at the Newton Soccer Field.

The Eagles will play next on Wednesday, Sept. 2 when they host Boston University at 7 p.m.

“It was a comprehensive victory over one of the top teams in the region,” said BC head coach Alison Kulik. “I was happy we were able to convert on our opportunities in the second half and I thought the back line was solid all night. Tonight was a good start to the season.”

Boston College dominated play as the Eagles out shot the Stags, 28-1. The Eagles had 16 shots on goal, including five from Knowlton and four from freshman Victoria DiMartino. BC also had 10 corner kicks while Fairfield had one.

Knowlton, who led the Eagles in scoring in 2008 with nine goals, scored her first goal of the night at 13:32 when she was sent into the box by freshman Kristen Mewis. Knowlton dribbled deep into the box, pulled the ball back away from a defender and ripped a shot to the far post past diving Fairfield keeper Kelly Boudreau for a 1-0 BC lead.

The Eagles had a number of great chances in the first half but Boudreau came up big for the Stags with six saves.

In the second half, the floodgates opened as the Eagles scored four goals. DiMartino gave the Eagles a 2-0 lead just 1:03 into the second half. DiMartino was sent along the end line and struck a soft shot that deflected by Boudreau for a 2-0 lead.

Knowlton may have scored the prettiest strike of the night in the 69th minute of the game. Mewis found senior Gina DiMartino right outside the box. DiMartino placed the ball between two defenders to Knowlton, who just pushed it past Boudreau for a 3-0 BC lead.

Junior Chelsea Regan made it 4-0 Boston College when she one-timed a cross into the box from Hannah Cerrone. Sophomore Julia Bouchelle finished off the scoring when she chipped a loose ball just outside the box into the top corner of the goal in the 86th minute of play.

The Eagles defense - Cerrone, Alyssa Pember, Kelly Henderson and Alaina Beyar - held the Stags to just one shot.

Holy Cross 2, UMass 0

WORCESTER, Mass. -- Paige Harrison and Biz Shenk scored the goals as the Crusaders beat the Minutewomen for the first time in the program’s history.

In the seventh minute, Harrison successfully converted a penalty kick to put Holy Cross ahead, 1-0. A few moments later, UMass senior Cristina Adams came within inches of tying the score as she broke through the Crusaders’ back line, but put her low shot just wide of the right post.

Then in the 55th minute, Holy Cross’ Liz Early sent a cross from the right over to Shenk, who took several steps toward goal and fired the ball past Minutewomen keeper Lauren Luckey into the bottom left corner of the net to increase Holy Cross’ lead to 2-0.

Adams had another opportunity in the 64th minute, but her attempt on frame was grabbed by Crusaders keeper Jessica Stone.

Holy Cross held a 20-8 advantage in shots and 4-2 in corner kicks. Luckey had six saves for the Minutewomen, while Stone made two for the Crusaders.

Bridgeport 3, Southern New Hampshire 2

MANCHESTER, N.H. – The 19th-ranked University of Bridgeport women’s soccer team scored twice in the final 10 minutes to post a 3-2 win over Southern New Hampshire University at Larkin Field Friday night. The game marked the season opener for both schools.

With the game tied 1-1 at the half, Southern New Hampshire took a 2-1 lead 5:29 into the second half. A clearing attempt by Bridgeport goalie Emelie Karstrom deflected off SNHU’s Alyssa Integlia (Johnston, R.I.) and Integlia got the goal.

The Purple Knights tied the game with exactly 10 minutes to play when Asia Pulse (New Haven, Conn.) knocked in a cross from the right side by Katie Stanley. Pulse collided with SNHU keeper Stef Young (Natick, Mass.) on the play, forcing Young out of the game. Freshman Maggie Weldon (Manchester, N.H.) came on in relief.

Linda Velaj (Stamford, Con..) registered the game-winner for Bridgeport with 3:41 remaining when she collected a touch pass from Sofia Hoflin and scored from eight yards out.

Southern New Hampshire took a 1-0 lead at the 18:43 mark of the first half. Ariel Teixeira (Warren, R.I.) lifted a ball from 12 yards out that hit the inside of the upper right corner and bounced in. Kristina Cardoso (Stoughton, Mass.) assisted on the tally. The Purple Knights evened the score 4:12 later when Elin Svavarsdottir got past Young and fired into the open net.

Karstrom turned aside four shots for Bridgeport, who outshot Southern New Hampshire 18-9. Young made eight saves for the Penmen before giving way to Weldon, who did not make a save.

Wyoming 2, Hartford 0

LARAMIE, Wyo. -- The University of Hartford women’s soccer team opened the 2009 season with a 2-0 loss at the University of Wyoming Friday afternoon.

Olivia Mohtadi scored a pair of goals to lead the Cowgirls, who improved to 1-1 on the season. Wyoming outshot Hartford 12-7 and held an 8-2 advantage on corner kicks.

Hartford goalkeeper Lauren Brodeur made just one save in 90 minutes. Courtney Merkle needed only two saves to record the clean sheet for the Cowgirls.

Hartford will look to pick up its first win of the season at Northern Colorado Sunday at 2 p.m.